Colorful Destination Wedding at Secrets Akumal, Riviera Maya

Rebecca and Herman wed an in a colorful destination wedding in Akumal, Mexico, just an hour south of Cancun. We asked the couple to share their big day details with us:

We used the beach and tropical destination as a backdrop for inspiration, but wanting to add some element of glamour that comes with a wedding and Secrets Akumal in Mexico had all that for us. Our inspiration was colors of the oceans (blues, sea greens) and metallic (golds) We were so thankful that our wedding could actually take place outside on the beach, with the reception poolside because it was exactly what we had envisioned.

Favorite moments from the day?

Becky: I loved the feeling I got right before I walked down the aisle. When I walked down the path to where I was to line up, and saw everyone in their seats, along with the entire set up of the ceremony location – the drapery on the gazebo, the chair corsages on the aisle chairs, the rustic aisle runner, the ceremony music….coupled with the amazing weather (it had been raining on and off all week and it was the first day it didn’t rain at all!)…I also felt at that moment that my grandmother was with me and watching over me from heaven. I saw Herman and I just knew I was where I was supposed to be and everything came together that day like I had envisioned!

Herman: The minister did an amazing job with our ceremony. She had a way of speaking to us like she has known us for years and people said that was one of the most beautiful ceremonies they had ever seen! The moment we said our vows was one of my favorite moments and I will remember that forever.

Details they loved?

The Mexican flare! We loved Spanish table numbers & novia/novio chair signs! Since we were in Mexico, we wanted to tie in some of the Spanish culture. Along the same vein, we loved having the Mariachi trio play at our cocktail hour. It really helped add to the ambiance of the day. We also loved the Hola welcome bags and the maraca favors.

We also loved the string lights that were strung across the palm trees at the reception. It was a must have for us and something we were willing to splurge on for the reception. It really added a special element of coziness to the reception, but also made for some fantastic pictures!

We often ask newlyweds for advice for other destination wedding couples:

Listen to your hearts and make decisions based on what the two of you want. Everyone will have an opinion on how things should be or what decisions you should make, but make it what the two of you envisioned! The process is supposed to be fun! So try to take it all in an enjoy planning it together. Make a list of your must haves in order to help you stick to your budget. When you add up everything you want, you will likely be way over your budget so knowing what you are willing to splurge on and what you don’t necessarily need will help you make crucial decisions.

ahhh, I loved photographing this wedding and am honored to see JetFete share it!! :) I’m back at Secrets Akumal next month and cant wait to shoot more at this beautiful resort! :) If anyone is considering a destination wedding here, feel free to reach out to me as I can give recommendations and feedback on the process at Secrets!

Carolina Villalobos

Beautiful couple and photos! We are so excited to see you again in May!
Saludos from beautiful Akumal!